Farmers urged to bid for flood work

FARMERS across Somerset are being invited to bid in the county’s biggest auction yet for works to help stop flooding.

Following successful trials by the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) in 2018 and 2019, a choice of up to seven different methods of natural flood management will be available in the online auction.

These include hedge planting, better maize management, grassland sub-soiling and slitting - all measures which help to slow the flow of water.

Councillor David Hall, chair of Somerset Rivers Authority, said: “One of the key points recognised in Somerset’s 20 Year Flood Action Plan, which was drawn up during the major floods of 2014, is that what happens on the land is really important.

“Every field, every farm, every stream has a part to play when it comes to managing water.

“The SRA has funded hundreds of natural flood management measures across Somerset through the award-winning Hills to Levels project, but online auctions mean we can do much more. Last year 200 bids were successful.

“It’s a system that cuts out paperwork and saves time and money.

“It lets farmers use their knowledge of their land to pinpoint places where between us we’ll get results. I say – give it a go!”

All that farmers must do to take part is visit the NatureBid website, choose one or more natural flood management methods, select areas of their land where they believe those methods will get the best flood prevention results, then bid for funding.

The total available this year is £40,000, the biggest sum yet.

After the auction closes, bids get checked by the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group South West (FWAG SW). Grants from the SRA and Environment Agency are then given to the best, most competitively-priced ideas.

The one proviso is that as the main purpose of natural flood management activities in Somerset is to slow the flow of water down through the higher parts of river catchments, the website will not allow farmers to place bids for land in low-lying internal drainage board areas, or in areas which drain out of the county.

Otherwise it covers the length and breadth of Somerset.

Neil Davies, director of future funding at the Environment Agency, said: “We all need to value the environment and encourage investment to improve it... This is a win-win for farmers and local communities.” ■ The auction will run online from Wednesday, March 18 to Monday, March 30 at the website www.naturebid.org.uk